DETROIT -- There was a little bit of swearing, yelling and battles in close quarters Thursday afternoon at the University of Detroit Mercy lacrosse field.

But that's the way it goes in lacrosse , "nasty style," as Brandon Beauregard put it, as the Titans prepare for frontiers previous unknown to the program.

With a roster containing several Oakland County contributors, Detroit qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history Sunday after winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship last week in Buffalo, N.Y.

Five seasons ago the Titans were 0-11. Now, their progress continues.

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The Titans' first postseason assignment is against No. 2 seed Notre Dame Saturday at the Irish's home field. The game will be telecast live at 5 p.m. on ESPNU from Arlotta Stadium in South Bend, Ind.

While Notre Dame has the name and the history -- they're ranked No. 6 in the nation and making their eighth straight appearance in the NCAA tournament -- the Titans aren't intimidated according to Beauregard, a Clarkston resident who prepped at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.

"Playing nasty like Detroit does," said the sophomore of the team's preparation. "Just kind of our motto ... working hard on ground balls ... riding, doing the little things," he said.

"We definitely like to think of our play as nasty," said Scott Drummond (Birmingham Seaholm). "I mean, we're definitely the hardest working team out there. We can outwork you and do everything it takes to win."

Nick Garippa (Pontiac Notre Dame Prep), Andy Hebden (Birmingham Brother Rice) and Jamie Hebden (Birmingham Brother Rice) are among a dozen or so other players on the roster with Oakland County connections.

The Titans, who were 5-9 overall and 3-3 in MAAC play, trailed 9-4 to Siena in the third period of the MAAC championship game when they stormed back to tie the game 10-10 in regulation. Mike Birney (Novi Detroit Catholic Central) tallied the game-winning goal in overtime, one of his career-high five in the contest, to vault the Titans into the NCAA tournament.

A season of weary road travels, injuries and slumping play came to a head in dramatic fashion, lifting the Titans' spirits as they search for more conquests.

Assistant coach Graham Adams, who played in several NCAA quarterfinal tournaments at Stony Brook University in Long Island, and Karl Zimmerman, who played at Ohio Wesleyan, worked the players through drills and situations as they prime for their rumble with the Irish. Both are Birmingham Brother Rice graduates.

For senior Jamie Hebden, along with younger brother Andy, a freshman, the experience has been overwhelming.

"Finishing my career like this, I couldn't be happier," said Jamie Hebden. "Words can't describe it. It's the first time we've played a whole season together. Couldn't ask for better."

Drummond, along with his teammates, was sweating with a cause under the bright sun as workouts continued.

"We want to send out our seniors out on a right note and what better way than winning the MAAC and send them out going to the tournament," Drummond said. "It's been one of the greatest experiences."